Tracked Skid Steers - Good, Better, Best??

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hi Mark, I am familiar with the highflow option you stated. The tractor your talking about is a SUPERTRAK, no opinion on the tractor just facts. They are based in Florida and do you really want a custom machine your dealer might not be able to work on. Just a thought! I saw there ad after I bought my ASV and also wondered, A real powerhouse but I'll stick to my ASV. Also the contractor I mentioned earlier that had the bobcat and dealing with rip rap rock said they are through with bobcat's and will be buying a Takeuchi 150 next. He said they are not what they used to be. The only warning I can give on any other tractor besides ASV on high flow continuious is the heat. I've been told that's where the trouble lyes. Maybe someone on here can give details but I know GEHL is the one who voids the warranty and there the ones with heat problems. But just to confuse things look at the two tractors SUPERTRAK chooses to modify, the big CAT and TL-150. Next Robbie

 

[burnetma]

I don't think you'll go wrong with an ASV, but the idea of doing your homework is a great idea. Other than machine performance, consider also the dealer support in your area. Even if you've got the best machine, being stranded in a forest without parts isn't exactly productive, either.

Wow, I just realized that the nearest ASV dealer is 75+ miles away! That will really hurt. I thought that there was a closer dealer, but seems he just sells used units. No parts support. I will get the best local service from NH and CAT. I suffer from having my JD dealer 45 miles away. I would not like to have two machines that are hard to get service.

 

[BarryinMN]

I've been looking at tracked machines for a future use also. Maintenance looked super easy on the CAT: whole cab pops up, JD CT322 middling, ASV's RC60 pretty tight.

The ASV's are made up the road from me and is 4' wide if I remember for maneuverability. The JD is 6' wide.

On subzero cold starts the JD took several glow plug cycles to fire, not tried the others yet.

 

[Tigerotor77W]

Robbie: not a problem... I hope I got the UC manufacturers right. I've certainly confused simpler things before... It's also too bad that Bobcat isn't building their machines the same anymore. I've heard as such of a few other companies. Also, the Cat 287B Supertrak is one mean machine -- I've never seen one run, but I saw a few at the plant. Honestly, however, since Cat doesn't support them directly (i.e. through their own engineering group), I haven't heard specific stories about how well they run.

Mark, if Cat and NH are your closest or best dealers, you may want to look at that. NH should be decent in your application; its high-flow is lacking, but it's still a simple, rugged machine (for mulching, anyhow). Cat's 287B with XPS is a great mulcher, but I've heard some stories of engine bay fires and some other stories of overheating. How often that happens is more likely a maintenance issue than an equipment issue, but another thought for you. I think the Supertrak may be overkill in certain applications; as I'm not entirely familiar with yours, I can't say that for certain, but it is nevertheless a pretty expensive option: I think they go for over $65k. I'm not familiar with whether Deere has a strong enough of a high-flow for mulching, but if it does, it may be worth it to have one dealer serve all your needs.

I apologize for telling you that every machine will work... I'm guessing that isn't the advice you're looking for! However, I do believe that if you can get a demo out of all the manufacturers, you can see how much they want your business (a small indication of how much support you'll get from them in the future) and also how the machines perform relative to each other and away from my "marketing-this, marketing-that" banter. Either way... keep us posted. I'd be sweating, too, if I had to drop a few dozen grand!

PS: Supertrak, Inc. - Supertrak.com is the site for that custom product.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

To Tigerotor77w, Very sound advice you just typed it better than I could. Mark if you can take all the info on here and run demos I believe the tractor for your needs will show itself. One option is to buy a smaller width mulching head and I know for a fact loftness has different size hyd motor on the heads to fit a variety of tractors. Okay, on the price of the supertraks, try doubling your estimate. No joke. Know if your talking about a dedicated mulcher there are better routes such as rayco and fecon. Both have 90 hp. metal tracked tractors with good mulching heads and not too heavy for the size. Plus the prices are down to earth,A rayco dealer recently quoted a ballpark of 90,000 for a new one. Pretty strong machine,I'm just not fond of dozer style undercarriages. If I was going to a bigger dedicated mulcher I would run a New Holland TV-145 with a carbide or timberax extreme.
Back to skids I've heard good thing about new holland tracked skids in my area and my dealer appears to be moving them as well.
I believe tigerotor is on to something about demoing them all, it should tell you alot about the dealer just trying to set that up. best of luck. Robbie

 

[PTRich]

I was on a skid steer forum site and there was a lot of talk of a track system from Loegring called VTS. Versitile Track System. This track has suspension and is wide. Looks a lot like ASV tracks. There are people using them in extreme conditions and realy like the fact that there are no hydrolics outside of the machine. They cost 12,000 to 15,000 but you can still buy a wheeled machine and put them on cheaper than buying a track machine. There are a few dealers that will suggest this because presumibly there performance is so good and you still have the option of putting wheels on for your own use or to sell. I believe I read Loegring was purchased by ASV in 2004.

 

[kubuddha]

Tigerotor77,

About the ASV cat system I heard complaints of the carrier rollers cracking in rocky and low temp. conditions. Just hear say, I need to look at the machine and talk to a dealer or better yet a few owners in my area.

Can any Asv owners tell me what materials are used in the sprockets, carriers rollers, etc., steel, plastic?

Thanks!!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Kubuddha. I had a good look at my track system today while I was loading my tractor, A deckover trailer puts the tracks at a good inspection hight. ASV's track are all rubber,no steel inserts like others. All the wheels are sealed bearing, metal hubbed, rubber wheels. There are three track length rows of wheels,21 per side in total. Three large wheels on each end with remainer in between.The drive sprocket is elevated with rollers. If you're looking at the tracks from the side you have a wheel, a 6" wide lug the sprocket grabs,another wheel in the center of track, another lug and then the outside wheel,or inside. I have been told the wheels ware because of rubber to rubber contact. There is some downside to every track system,it's just a matter of what you can live with. My tractor is used for mulching 95% of the time which I consider a very controlled environment. Before I load it when the day is done I have a hand held blower that I use to clean the machine off and the tracks. Mainly not to have debri blowing everwhere going down the road, but in doing so you would not believe the debri that comes out of the tracks. As far as the rollers cracking I haven't seen that. The tracks are pretty stout and protected fairly well. And for the cold, I live in the south, not a problem for me. But I can definitly see where gravel would not be a friend to the wheels. Robbie

 

[kubuddha]

Thanks Robbie!

As soon as I get a day off I'm going to the closest dealer and try a test run of the RC 100.

Thanks again for the details!! LOL.

 

[burnetma]

I spoke with the owner of the closest ASV dealer (Paul Mabie of Mabie Brothers, INC.) for about an hour yesterday. What a nice gentlemen. He went over a couple of examples of his customer's applications for ASV machines with mulchers and rotary cutters. Gave me a range of track life based on use and what ASV has done, in general terms, to improve the system. So here is a quick data dump.

He told me that he has been with ASV from the beginning of ASV's business. The ASV machines are designed as dedicated track machines not retrofitted wheel machines. Thus there is no design constraints to fit both applications. They have dramatically improved the track design to limit wear and eliminate thrown tracks. He states that thrown tracks are a thing of the past (good to know). He states that track life is operator dependent and can range from as little as 1000 hours to as high as 2000+ hours. His most abusive customer has done in tracks in less than 1000 hours, but as he stated these guys abuse the equipment. They clear powerlines with a rotary cutter, running over the stubble can impale the tracks and causes a lot of side loading. A COMPLETE shop track rebuild could cost as high as $10k, but that is not common. He offered to show me some of the abused and used machines when I visit to explain common issues and wear items. Like I said nice guy!

He offered to demo two machines on his farm. He has an SR80 with a Loftness 53" Carbide all set-up and ready to go. He also has an RC100, but no cutter in stock right now to go with them. He said that he would put the Loftness over on the RC100, but we would have to run it at low flow and RPM's so as to not over-pressurize the smaller motor on the unit. Again, a very nice man. He is an authorized Loftness and Recon dealer and has knowledge of the Tushogg mulchers. I plan to go to his shop over my vacation Dec 22 - Jan 1. Should be interesting.

Also, the quotes are coming in on rentals for the NH and CAT machines. Too little data to report yet.